The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-05
Lucerne as Alfalfa.

Lucerne as Alfalfa.
f.. j. Redding, of Atlanta, Ga, in an ar
nele in the Southern Cuttirotor, says that
Editor Medill of Chicago, in recent COM
munication to prominent Southern gen
telnan, says alfalfa, or California clover, is
not the same plant as we of the South have
long known as lucerne. What authority he
has fer such statement we do not know
hut it is pretty certain that he is in error
1t is possible, if not probable, that there
may be two varieties. At any rate we are
all agreed that the lucerne we have been
cultivating in a sort of sporadic way for
forty or fifty years is one of the most val
liable forage plants that are adapted to the
South.
Lucerne is native of the southern part
of Europe, from whence it was introduced
into Chilli, and perhaps much later into Cal
ifornia. The different routes or sources
from which we have obtained seed may ac-
count for such differences as have been
noted; for it is known that different soils
and climates cause differences which some
times justify division into varieties. 1t
is closely allied to the ordinary red clover,
qualities of clover it has in addition some
points of excellence. 1t is fully equal to
clover in nutritive qualities; it produces
even more food per acre; it comes much
earlier in the spring; it will bear cutting
from three to 'iolI times during the season
and, lastly, it is perennial A plat of ground
once we'll set in lucerne, and occasionally
top-dressed, will last for generation. 1t is
plant that is we'll adapted to stand the
heat and drought of summer, and it is not
subject to disasters Although possessing
all these good qualities, and having been in
limited cultivation in the South for many
years, we presume that not one farmer in
ten would know the plant at sight, and still
fewer have cultivated even small patch of
it, We are inclined to the opinion that lu
cerne is, al things considered, the most val
liable forage plant we have.
Now is tie time to SOW the seed-during
the month of sepFember-yet it will do well
sown in Paeruary or March. 1t is useless
to sow on any but tie best or most highly
fertiGzed land. A deep, sandy loan, well
drained and deeply broken, is what the
plant requires, although succeeding well on
clay soils The soil must have been previ-
ously cultivated in one or two clean-hoed
crops in order that there may be no seeds of
weeds or of other grass to interfere with the
plants the first year: Select piece of land
that has been ua,Sa: high. intensive culture
until it has become very rich, and also free
from seeds; or if the ground is not already
rich it may be highly fortified with we'll
rotted stable manure or high grade ammo
mated superphosphate. Prepare the land
just as you would to produce big yield OF
rutabagas, and SOW in the same way-in
drills about Is inches apart, covering lightly
and pressing the soil over the drill. Use
about II pounds of seed per acre. These
directions are given with some particularly
because their observance is quite necessary
to insure success.
The seed will come up in a week or less
when sown in tn falD and are not trou-
bled by insects as in the case of turnips.
The main OBJ vet o. working the crop is to
keep it clear & weeds, some of which will
spring up in the very cleanest soil The
plants do not need to be thinned out, but
light sweep should be run along the rows to
keep down weeds ana encourage growth.
Early in February or March, according to
locality, the plants will spring forward very
rapidly, and one or two cuttings may be
had the first season of growth. When de
sired to feed it to stock, the plants should
be cut when in bloom, and before they be-
gin to turn yellow, allowed to lie on the
ground until wilted SAY until next day.,
when the forage may be fed to stock cd
tbjtt0n. Excellent hay may be made from
lucerne and it will afford several crops in
one season. 1t is said that the hay does not
salivate stock as clover does, the second
cutting. All that the crop will require
after becoming well established will be oc-
casional top-dressing with rotted stable
manure or a dose of good commercial fer
tilizer.